No 14897, Saturday 12 Sep 2026, Bruno

 ACROSS
1 Farmer often plays around lake in a cheery way (10) PLEASANTLY {P{L}EASANT}{pLaYs}
6 Catch no-good groups of criminals, relapsing (4) SNAG {GANgS<}
9 Most VIPs were wearing hot green for advanced showing (10) PREVIEWING {VIPs WERE}*{G} around {IN}
10 Fish enthusiast reeling second catch (4) TUNA {NUT<}{cAtch}

12 Plain curiosity, when curtailed, can become showy (12) MERETRICIOUS {MERE}{CURIOSITy}*
15 Homeless person's fine eventually, after overcoming bit of overdose (7) FLOATER {F}{LATER} around {Overdose}
16 Modern financial institution - one flirting with disqualification over 1000 dollars! (7) NEOBANK {ONE*}{BAN}{K}
17 Whip bit of egg-white into foam (7) LEATHER {L{Egg-white}ATHER}
19 Element's addition while recovering takes edge off pain (7) SULPHUR {PLUS<}{HURt}

20 Firm and strong bottoms seen on skilled sportsmen basically - you could place cups on them (6,6) COFFEE TABLES {CO}{F}{FEET}{ABLE}{Sportsmen} 

23 Word for stuff announced internally (4) NOUN [HIPS]
24 Slip into neglect that requires less energy (5,5) STRIP LIGHT {TRIP} in {SLIGHT}

25 Tech overlords hiding answer (4) ECHO [T]
26 Place beyond reality where The Lord somehow accepts without resistance (10)  OTHER WORLD {THE LORD}* around {WO R}

DOWN
1 Tube of Epipen unwrapped (4) PIPE ePIPEn
2 Uninterrupted function finished early (4) EVEN {EVENt}
3 Love letter composed with this very often gets thrown out for sharp item (8,4) STILETTO HEEL {LOvE+LETTEr+THIS}*

4 We return to family finally, visiting, around this occasion (3,4) NEW YEAR  {WE<}{familY} in {NEAR} Semi &Lit
5 Avoiding AI, I created unoriginal exercise (4,3) LONG RUN {UNORiGiNaL}*
7 Foreign currency's course blocked by New York? That can make your nerves weak... (10) NEUROPATHY {EURO}{PATH} in NY
8 Artist at Russia's interior took risk, composed within limits of glasnost - that could leave one somewhat exposed (5,5) GRASS SKIRT {RA}{ruSSia}{RISK*}in {GlassnosT}

11 Possible friend's distant after husband interrupted and dropped in - very weird, to begin with (12) SCHOOLFELLOW {C{H}OOL}{FELL}in {SO}+Weird
13 Lady joining workplace next to new church and liquor store (3-7) OFF-LICENCE {L}in {OFFICE}+{N}{CE}
14 Attack overwhelming beleaguered ally of King's one of five in a row (5,5) ROYAL FLUSH {RUSH} around {ALLY OF}*

18 Errant cast can't often make noise (3-1-3) RAT-A-TAT {eRrAnT cAsT cAnT} 
19 Posh boy wearing slender cap from Europe's grand (7) SUBLIME {S{U}{B}LIM}{Europe}
21 Area magazine boosted culture (4) AGAR {A}{RAG<}

22 Boss' investigation was cut short (4) STUD {STUDy}

Reference List

Lake=L, Good=G, Hot=In, Green=G, Fine=F, 1000 dollars=K, Firm=Co (Company), Strong=F (Fortissmo), Without=WO, Resistance=R, Love=O, Husband=H, Lady=L, Posh=U, Boy=B, Area=A.